FEVRE DREAM AT PRINTERS

October 24, 2007

Subterranean Press has just informed me that their long-awaited deluxe illustrated edition of Fevre Dream has gone to the printers. Bill Schafer writes, “I expect we’ll have finished books in early December, and the slipcases in early January. So early January looks like the shipping time.”

First publised way back in 1982 by Poseidon Press, Fevre Dream remains my favroite of my older novels, a historical horror tale set on the Mississippi in the antebellum south, during the heydey of the great steam packets. The story of steamboat captain Abner Marsh and his mysterious partner Joshua York, it was my third novel, and by far my most successful… at least until A Game of Thrones came out in 1996. Abner, Joshua, and the fleet sidewheel steamer Fevre Dream will always have a special place in my heart… and I hope that some of my Ice & Fire readers will enjoy meeting them as well.

This new edition will be lavishly illustrated by the up-and-coming artist Justin Sweet (not to be confused with Darrell Sweet, who is no relation), a recent winner of NESFA’s coveted Jack Gaughan Award. For a look at some of Justin’s other art work, check out his website at http://www.justinsweet.com

Justin has brought the world of the antebellum Mississippi back to life with four paintings — a haunting and evocative cover (above) and three gorgeous full-color plates — and some beautiful pen-and-ink drawings, some samples of which are seen here.

Fevre Dream will be published in two states. The numbered edition will be limited to 448 copies, and will retail for $125. The lettered edition will be limited to 52 copies and will sell for $300. Both will be printed on acid-free paper, and autographed by both author and artist. The numbered edition will be slipcased, the lettered will come with a handcrafted traycase. To place your preorder, contact Subterranean.

You might want to do it soon. There’s a good chance both lettered and the numbered will be sold out before publication.